Smith proposes $1.7 billion budget

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith on Tuesday morning proposed a $1.7 billion budget that includes a modest spending increase ? but no new taxes ? and reflects what he called the county and state?s “economic malaise.”

The 2009 budget comes within $977 of the 4.56 percent spending increase cap in light of decreasing county revenues and a sour housing market. In his sixth annual budget message, the Democrat said he did not include anything that wasn?t critical to basic government.